In 1932, after Alfieri's death, Maserati brothers' factory stood in Bindo, Ettore and Ernesto's hands; they went on managing courageously the factory until the end of Forties, when they decided to sell all to Orsi family.
With the money they gained from selling their brand, they founded OSCA and concentrate themselves only in building sportcars so to have immediatly an echonomical return.
This happened thanks to the small but competitive line-4 barchettas, which were dangerous opponents against the other more skilled cars.
In 1949, after having collected lots of successes, Mr. Gordini, French sportcars builder, placed to OSCA an order for a 4500 cc. V12 with whom he wanted to built his own F1 cars. OSCA accepted and, along with the normal factory's programs, he built the first prototype in the beginning of 1950. Unfortunately, the relationship with Gordini and Simca went to break and he stood without the necessary assistance for building a F1 car at low costs.
For OSCA, this was a great problem: developing program of the new engine was very close to be realized completely. The Maseratis themselves thought about building their own F1 car but, by the high costs, it had to be thought strongly.
In the meanwhile of this complex valutation, a compromising solution came out: Prince Bira of Siam was looking for a new F1 car and found an optimal chance the new Osca engine. His old San Remo Maserati was taken to Bologna where it was updated and the new V12 was installed. After a very quick work, just ten days, on March 23rd 1951 Bira's Maserati - Osca won at Richmond Trophy at Goodwood circuit. Then, he retired at San Remo, he arrived 4h overall at Bordeaux, he won at Silverstone and Goodwood. At Spain G.P. he retired.
At Maseratis' came a new push to build a real OSCA F1: Manager and gentleman driver Franco Rol from Turin was one of the several pilots who was finding themselves wihout a car by Maserati crisis, so he succeeded in convince Maseratis to build a new F1 car.
Despite of his conventional architecture, the OSCA F1 was very efficient: V12 engine, optimal weight distribution, transaxle system, De Dion tube rear suspension.
At the 1951 Monza GP Rol could not obtain anything against Ferrari 375 F1's strenght but he arrived, anyway, 9th overall. This was enough for OSCA to increase its role as a F1 builder but it wasn't as much as enough against 1952 rules, who accepted only 2-liter cars.
For the new car there were few chances so, after building another one car fo Luigi Piotti, the project was abandoned. But he make the car modify as well to try to use it as much as possible. Volpini from Milan converted it into a sport coupè with a nice Zagato bodywork. His next owner, Paolo Cordero di Montezemolo converted it into spyder and got several successes.
Even the first Rol's car was converted into spyder (with central hand drive) with Frua coachwork.